{"id":32215,"date":"2021-05-19T18:28:14","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T18:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=32215"},"modified":"2021-05-19T18:28:14","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T18:28:14","slug":"new-hhs-secretary-becerra-urged-to-expand-digital-health-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/new-hhs-secretary-becerra-urged-to-expand-digital-health-access\/","title":{"rendered":"New HHS Secretary Becerra urged to expand digital health access"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Minutes after the full Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra’s cabinet nomination, advocacy groups were reminding him of the need to bring the American healthcare system “into the 21st century.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Kat Jercich<\/a> March 18, 2021 03:19 PM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health advocacy groups congratulated new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on his confirmation Thursday afternoon, urging him to use the position to advance digital health initiatives and continue responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Senate confirmed Becerra, who will become the first Latino person to hold the cabinet position, in a 50 to 49 vote on Thursday. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was the only Republican to vote for him<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The confirmation took longer, and the vote was closer, than many expected. But right away, even as they congratulated him, healthcare technology stakeholders called on him to support innovation across the industry.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Secretary Becerra\u2019s support for digital health tools and services’ increased use will be critical as we continue the fight against COVID-19 and to bring the best healthcare available to all Americans, particularly those in underserved communities,” said Connected Health Initiative executive director Morgan Reed in a statement.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“CHI looks forward to working with Secretary Becerra and HHS to bring the American healthcare system into the 21st century,” he added.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHY IT MATTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his confirmation hearings in February, Becerra signaled his support for telemedicine<\/a> and other digital health tools.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If we don’t learn from COVID how telehealth can help save lives, then we’re in trouble,” he said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Telemedicine Association cheered the confirmation, reiterating its support for a wide range of policies aimed at expanding access to digital health under the Biden administration.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There are many challenges ahead in creating more equitable, accessible and efficient care but we, like Secretary Becerra, believe that telehealth and virtual care services can offer critical solutions to deliver care whenever and wherever needed,” said ATA CEO Ann Mond Johnson in a statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We also support the expansion of broadband access to help close the ‘digital divide’ to address the inequities that currently exist in healthcare,” Johnson added.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ATA has urged the 117th Congress and the new administration to:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n